AMERICA’S COOLEST DISTILLERIES TO TOUR ON YOUR NEXT TRIP

Although Prohibition put a damper on America’s ability to drink in the 1920s and 1930s, the recent emergence of craft distilleries has put drinking spirits back on the map. We searched high and low to find the coolest distilleries across the country to sip top-notch beverages. The distilleries on our list pride themselves on using organic and locally-sourced (when possible) ingredients to produce high-quality spirits ranging from classic whiskies to off-the-wall flavoured vodkas. Each can be savoured in the form of a tasting flight or mixed into a craft cocktail. No matter what you order, there’s nothing like tasting spirits straight from their source.

Named after the region of North Carolina where it’s located, Broadslab Distillery has been producing stellar moonshine, whiskey and rum for over five generations. The recipes have withstood the test of time and have been passed down year after year since before Prohibition. Better yet, they use the sweet, food grade white corn harvested on their own farm as a key ingredient. Tour the facilities, learn the history of each handcrafted product, try a sample and take home a free shot glass when you visit.

Catoctin Creek is considered to be the first legal distillery in Loudon County, Virginia since before Prohibition. Although countless vineyards and wineries in the area have put this region on the map, Catoctin Creek has made a name for itself with its high quality food and spirits made from local and organic ingredients. Taste the flagship product, Roundstone Rye, or sample the distillery’s unique fruit brandies that are flavoured from fresh farm fruits, such as peaches and apples. Tours are free and tastings are reasonably priced, so make sure to leave enough time to do both!

The spirits produced at Heritage Distilling Co. are handcrafted in small batches from the finest grains and purest waters. The result is award-winning craft spirits that can be sampled during a tour and tasting at the distillery. You’ll find everything from Bacon flavoured vodka and Char Barrel Finished Gin to Brown Sugar Bourbon and Apple Cider Whiskey coming out of the stills here. There’s a spirit that will satisfy every taste bud.

Perched in the Wasatch-Uinta Mountains of Utah, High West Distillery celebrates some of the glories of the American West: cowboys and deliciously smooth spirits. Take an educational tour to learn about the unique distilling process or skip right to tasting a flight of rich or oaky whiskies with bone marrow tots and scotch eggs on the side. Starting out from humble roots, High West Distillery is now an internationally-recognised brand with multiple locations and fantastic products.

After Brant Braue explained his dream job to his brother as running a distillery, he realised he just had to open one. As a result, Jersey Artisan Distilling was born and focuses on producing spirits with modernised techniques of classic styles. Busted Barrell Silver and Dark Rums are what the distillery’s known for and the custom copper stills and American oak barrels help to give the spirits their distinctive flavours.

Montanya Distillers focuses on the craft of making and ageing American rums. The distillery’s key to the success of its delicious rums is its location. Being nestled in the Rocky Mountains, the high altitude positively affects the fermenting, distilling and ageing of the spirits produced here. It also helps that each handcrafted bottle is made from only four ingredients: sugar cane straight from Louisiana, Colorado mountain water, yeast, and a hint of Colorado honey from local bees.

Situated on Portland’s Distillery Row, New Deal Distillery has mastered the art of producing small batches of handcrafted spirits from natural and organic ingredients. Different varieties of vodka, gin and liqueurs are made here and can be sampled by trying each spirit in a tasting flight or special craft cocktail. No matter what you choose to drink here, the use of top ingredients and passion poured into every bottle is evident with every sip.

Painted Stave Distilling has been producing spirits that beg to be savoured and shared with friends since 2011. Premium spirits crafted here include Diamond State Bourbon Whiskey, made from local corn and aged in small oak barrels, Candy Manor Gin, with its notes of lavender, lemon-balm and sweet goldenrod, and Off the Hoof Scrapple Vodka, flavoured with scrapple, sage and other herbs and spices. The process from distilling to bottling is all done by hand, which you can see first-hand during a tour.

Specialising in Scotch-style whiskies and Calvados-style apple brandies, Santa Fe Spirits has become a distinguished artisan distillery in the Southwest. Tours of the distillery take place every hour, but reservations are required here. If you forget to make a reservation or want to skip right to the good stuff, check out Santa Fe Spirits’ downtown tasting room for delicious cocktails and flights. It’s particularly fun during Happy Hour from 4-6pm.

The masterminds behind Smugglers’ Notch distillery are a father and son who decided to part with their traditional day jobs and open a distillery at the foot of the famed Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont. The spirits distilled here are tasty enough to stand alone or can be used to elevate even the most basic of cocktails. Current offerings include award-winning vodka, exquisite wheat whiskey, flavourful rum and more.

Visiting the Sons of Liberty Spirits Company for an educational tour and killer cocktail is the perfect weekend activity in Rhode Island. This New England distillery is unique as it challenges the tradition of classic American Whiskey by offering American Single Malt Whiskies created from flavourful beers. Each new season also brings a new seasonal spirit, such as Grapefruit Hop Flavoured Whiskey to indulge in during the warmer months and Pumpkin Spice Whiskey for autumn enjoyment.

Located in the heart of Gatlinburg, Sugarlands Distilling Company is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike to stop in for some high-quality moonshine and whiskey. Tours provide a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the distillery’s award-winning Sugarlands Shine and other spirits, while the live music and Appalachian storytelling on-site offer a relaxing day of exploring Tennessee’s majestic outdoors. Sugarlands Distilling Company is just a small slice of “moonshiners’ paradise” in this region of the country, but it’s well worth the visit.

Meg Schulte’s favorite vacation was an 11-day U.S. road trip from California to Massachusetts when she was a child. The trip included stops at the Grand Canyon and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, as well as an order of chicken tenders in every state. Her dream vacation is spending a week in Bora Bora staying in an overwater bungalow. Meg is a Content Marketing Associate for TripAdvisor.